Prominent West Australian owner Bob Peters will give his Derby winning filly Arcadia Dream a chance to win more three year old Classics and copy the deeds of his dual Oaks and Dual Derby winner Delicacy when he sends her East for the Adelaide Autumn Carnival.
Delicacy, above, winning the 2015 South Australian Derby at Morphettville. Photo by Jenny Barnes.
Arcadia Dream was a beaten odds on favourite when second to stablemate First Impressions in the Group 3 $250,000 Kirin Megumi W.A. Oaks (2400m) at Ascot in Perth on April 2.
But courtesy to a well-judged ride from William Pike, Arcadia Dream was able redeem herself with a last stride win over Who Dat Singa in the Group 2 $400,000 Schweppes W.A.T.C. Derby (2400m) at Ascot last Saturday.
Delicacy created history last year when she was able to win the WA Oaks and the WATC Derby before heading to Adelaide to win the Group 1 $400,000 Schweppes Oaks (registered as Australasian Oaks) (2000m) and the Group 1 $500,000 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville.
“It is big boots for her to fill, but she has pulled up well,” Peters said.
“She will have a week in the paddock at home and we will keep an eye on her.
“First Impressions is OK and she might go as well.”
WA Oaks winner First Impressions was a race morning scratching because of hoof soreness but is expected to make a quick recovery.
Even though Arcadia Dream had run second over 2400m in the WA Oaks, Peters was still concerned that the Domesday filly was susceptible of running out a strong mile and a half of the WATC Derby.
“I was a little bit concerned about her getting the distance,” Peters said.
“Obviously the way the race was run did suit her.
“She was caught in the Oaks out and without cover…things just didn’t work out for her.
“She was a little unlucky behind Perfect Reflection earlier, but in saying that Perfect Reflection was probably the better filly at those distances.”
But Peters had nothing to worry about and with plenty of up front pressure from the half way mark in the WATC Derby, Arcadia Dream was able to storm home to give winning jockey William Pike his sixth success in the race and give Peters his eighth.
The WATC Derby was Arcadia Dream’s fifth win from twelve starts and her winning cheque of $240,000 took her overall earnings to over the half a million dollar mark.
